James Daniel Green of Pembroke Pines, Florida was arrested last Wednesday for allegedly trying to lure a 9-year-old girl into his vehicle. Green, 57, faces charges for suspicion of enticing a child under the age of 12, violating probation in a DUI case, and possession of an open container with an alcoholic beverage.
Green was ordered held in lieu of a $50,000 bond during a bond court session on Thursday by Judge Michael Davis. The judge also ordered him not to contact the victim or go within 500 feet of a daycare center, park, or school. News sources did not name an attorney for Green.
According to the arrest report, Green was driving a white GMC van in Dania Beach when he allegedly accosted the victim as she came out of a 7-Eleven store. The girl told police that a man driving a white van rolled down his window and asked her if she knew where “Travis” was. The man then asked her to get into the van and show her where Travis lived.
Witnesses claim to have seen the child running while crying. One of them reportedly went to talk to the van’s driver in an attempt to stall him while someone else called the police and sheltered the nine year old.
Green allegedly told police who arrived at the scene that he simply wanted the girl to tell him where Travis lived. According to a deputy’s report, Green allegedly said that Travis is a drug dealer and he was looking to buy drugs.
During his bond court hearing, Green told Judge Michael Davis that he had “messed up.” He had reportedly been sober for nine months and was going through a relapse when he encountered the child. Judge Davis sympathized but said, “There is a real serious allegation here . . . this is a really sensitive victim here.”
While the judge appreciated all the hard work Green put in to remain clean, he had to take into consideration that the victim is a 9-year-old girl. Green is also facing charges for a separate DUI case and was on pretrial release. Judge Davis revoked his release and ordered him to be held on bond pending the outcome of both cases.